Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe–Nevada State Park

The Calico Hills pullouts (Calico I and Calico II) are the first major scenic stops on Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area's 13-mile one-way Scenic Loop Drive, located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on SR-159. Vivid bands of red, orange, and cream Aztec sandstone rise hundreds of feet above the desert floor, and the overlooks provide unobstructed views across the geological formations that give Red Rock its name. Restrooms are available at Calico II. The Scenic Loop is a timed-entry drive (reservation required in peak season) that routinely ranks among the top short rides near Las Vegas.

Reno to Tahoe via Mt. Rose Summit (~8,900 ft), ~25 mi. Pairs with Kingsbury Grade (NV-207) for a Tahoe loop.

The terminus of Lamoille Canyon Road (Forest Road 660 / NV-227 spur) sits at 8,800 feet in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada, 27 miles southeast of Elko. The U-shaped canyon was carved by Pleistocene glaciers into a dramatic alpine amphitheater with sheer granite walls rising over 3,000 feet. The large trailhead parking area at the road's end anchors the Ruby Mountains Scenic Byway and provides access to trails toward Island Lake and Lamoille Lake. The drive up the canyon — 12 miles of paved byway with no dead-end turnaround issue for bikes — is routinely ranked among Nevada's finest alpine roads.